What If....?

[cvanwey]

....All comments, questions, ideas, and responses were purely judged only upon the merits and presented rationale, reason, and evidence given; as opposed to seeing the label in which the poster is attached and responding with some type of guarded bias? (i.e.) such labels might include: 'Christian', 'deist', 'atheist', 'agnostic', 'Hindu', etc...

I kind of see us all doing this, quite frankly.....

Example:

A non-believer might ask a question, and the opposing position already puts up their 'dukes' in defense, or puts up their guard; and vise verse...

It would nice to exchange ideas, w/o the labels. I see it the political arena as well. Someone has an (R) or a (D) after their name and the opposing position looks for flaws, as opposed to listening to the argument itself....

Now to my question....

What are the best bullet points, or pieces of evidence to support the claims of a postmortem Jesus - (resurrection)? I'm actually quite versed in this topic. I would really just like the bullet points. I'm curious more than anything, because I have friends whom accept a resurrection claim as literal, while practically not accepting any other claim of super phenomenon from the Bible. Which appears inconsistent....

Thank you

 

[KWCrazy]

You are asking for proof of something which must be accepted through faith. Fortunately, it doesn't work that way. you will have absolute proof of God when you stand before Him; not until. If someone could prove God to you then you could never have faith; and thus no chance for salvation. The resurrection of Christ is chronicled in the same place as the life of Christ; in the Scriptures. Where else could it be? In the writings of evil men? Are not all the unsaved under the condemnation of their sins?

1 Corinthians 15: 3-7. "For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles."

The followers of Christ suffered torture and death but refused to recant their witness to the resurrection. Would anyone so willingly die for a hoax? What if you made a sincere effort to find Christ and find the truth? What if you gave your life to Him and received the Holy Spirit? You would have your answers, have your proof and have a place in eternity. The hardness of your heart will prevent this, but it remains a challenge to you, regardless.

 

[Tree of Life]

What are the best bullet points, or pieces of evidence to support the claims of a postmortem Jesus - (resurrection)? I'm actually quite versed in this topic. I would really just like the bullet points. I'm curious more than anything, because I have friends whom accept a resurrection claim as literal, while practically not accepting any other claim of super phenomenon from the Bible. Which appears inconsistent....

Thank you

1. A plethora of recorded eyewitness testimony. It's hard to explain the existence of the New Testament (the gospels especially) while rejecting the resurrection.
2. The existence of the Church. It's difficult to explain how an obscure Jewish sect survived the first 3 centuries and became the dominant religion of the world within a millennium.
3. The conversion and writings of the apostle Paul. It's very difficult to explain the existence of his writings without the resurrection.

 

[cvanwey]

You are asking for proof of something which must be accepted through faith. Fortunately, it doesn't work that way. you will have absolute proof of God when you stand before Him; not until. If someone could prove God to you then you could never have faith; and thus no chance for salvation. The resurrection of Christ is chronicled in the same place as the life of Christ; in the Scriptures. Where else could it be? In the writings of evil men? Are not all the unsaved under the condemnation of their sins?

I find it curious that no external actual eye-witnesses writings speak of such an event? Especially since this would be such a miraculous sighting. Not even continued non-believers, whom merely reported what they saw (like a news reporter), as apparently hundreds/thousands witnessed such a phenomenon as it was happening. Seems odd really. One of the main points would be to demonstrate His holiness and proof to humans, and to spread the word. If no one, outside of a later bias filled texts reports as such, it makes it hard for many to believe. Why would God present to the illiterate, or people unwilling to write stuff to paper? Why wouldn't a God present, if wanting to demonstrate His glory, to one's whom will write unbiased publications of witnessing a miraculous event? Instead, all we are left with are the later Gospels....

The followers of Christ suffered torture and death but refused to recant their witness to the resurrection. Would anyone so willingly die for a hoax? What if you made a sincere effort to find Christ and find the truth? What if you gave your life to Him and received the Holy Spirit? You would have your answers, have your proof and have a place in eternity. The hardness of your heart will prevent this, but it remains a challenge to you, regardless.

First of all, there exists little to any verification that the followers were martyred. Second, I'm sure they believed anyways, just like the many Muslims whom believe, and die for their cause So this must mean the Muslims might be correct as well?

 

[cvanwey]

1. A plethora of recorded eyewitness testimony. It's hard to explain the existence of the New Testament (the gospels especially) while rejecting the resurrection.

Examples needed

1. The existence of the Church. It's difficult to explain how an obscure Jewish sect survived the first 3 centuries and became the dominant religion of the world within a millennium.

No it's not. The Roman empire, via Emperor Constantine specifically, was a follower and made the worship acceptable, which allowed the belief to later flourish.

1. The conversion and writings of the apostle Paul. It's very difficult to explain the existence of his writings without the resurrection.

Need elaboration for this claim.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

....All comments, questions, ideas, and responses were purely judged only upon the merits and presented rationale, reason, and evidence given; as opposed to seeing the label in which the poster is attached and responding with some type of guarded bias? (i.e.) such labels might include: 'Christian', 'deist', 'atheist', 'agnostic', 'Hindu', etc...

I kind of see us all doing this, quite frankly.....

Example:

A non-believer might ask a question, and the opposing position already puts up their 'dukes' in defense, or puts up their guard; and vise verse...

It would nice to exchange ideas, w/o the labels. I see it the political arena as well. Someone has an (R) or a (D) after their name and the opposing position looks for flaws, as opposed to listening to the argument itself....

Now to my question....

What are the best bullet points, or pieces of evidence to support the claims of a postmortem Jesus - (resurrection)? I'm actually quite versed in this topic. I would really just like the bullet points. I'm curious more than anything, because I have friends whom accept a resurrection claim as literal, while practically not accepting any other claim of super phenomenon from the Bible. Which appears inconsistent....

Thank you

I'll just leave a foot-print here with my opinion on this OP, if that's ok.

In my estimation, and since in my view facts and evidences are never context-less, it would be more advantageous to ask people not for specific bullet points per say, but rather for a brief list of sources represented by authors, lead pastors, apologists, theologians and/or Christian Philosophers whose specific books or programs have had, for the person posting, the most influence in his/her thinking toward the support of the literal Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

But, that's me. So, carry on!

 

[cvanwey]

I'll just leave a foot-print here with my opinion on this OP, if that's ok.

In my estimation, and since in my view facts and evidences are never context-less, it would be more advantageous to ask people not for specific bullet points per say, but rather for a brief list of sources represented by authors, lead pastors, apologists, theologians and/or Christian Philosophers whose specific books or programs have had, for the person posting, the most influence in his/her thinking toward the support of the literal Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

But, that's me. So, carry on!

And I thank you for your suggestion. But I'm more curious as to what points of evidence convinces them, not so much the evidence presented within those claims. But I am still more than happy to explore them as they are presented.